How to Clean a Blackstone Griddle—And Achieve a Perfect Sear

To make the cleanup as effortless as preparing your meals, follow these expert tips on how to keep this hot griddle in tip-top shape—no matter if it’s a portable tabletop or a full-service backyard Blackstone beauty.

What is the best way to clean a Blackstone griddle?

A Blackstone griddle comes with its own rules. “You don’t need big, fancy tools, as long as it is cleaned periodically,” Garcia says. With proper maintenance, your smashburger dream machine can last 15 to 20 years.

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That said, it’s best to clean the flat top often. Chef Brandon Chrostowski, founder and CEO of Edwins Leadership & Restaurant Institute in Cleveland and 2023 James Beard Award finalist, believes that crafting quality food extends beyond ingredients. “Perfection on a Blackstone requires a balance of technique and care,” he says. “A well-maintained Blackstone can be a chef’s partner in the kitchen.”

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Follow these five steps to make sure your flat top griddle is in tip-top shape.

Downey recommends to start cleaning the cooking space while the burner is still hot. Use caution to avoid getting burnt from the steam. To be extra safe, wear heat-resistant silicone griddle gloves to protect yourself. You can spray a cleaning solution directly onto the flat top griddle. You may need a few spritzes to cover a 36-inch griddle.

Note that the Blackstone company warns against using soap, as it can strip away the seasoning layer on the cast iron. However, many of our experts (including Downey) say that it is fine to use dish soap, a degreaser, or a homemade baking soda solution. You can also try the EcoLab Heavy-Duty Citrus Degreaser and Cleaner. “This formula will give you peace of mind, save you time from scrubbing stains that won’t go away, and prevent rust from occurring in the future,” Downey says.

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The best way to clean a griddle top is to scrape it down with a metal-edge scraper to get all the large debris (like a burnt piece of hot dog) into the grease cup to be thrown away. (You can get Blackstone griddle grilling accessories at Walmart, Amazon, and Home Depot.) If there is anything still stuck to the griddle surface, you can use concentrated shots of water to loosen it up, or you can even use a scrub pad from a cleaning kit on blackstoneproducts.com for extra-sticky messes. The most important thing to remember is to minimize water.

To ensure the Blackstone grill’s longevity and optimize its flavor-enhancing potential, Chrostowski swears by the technique of applying this simple combo to the cooking surface: kosher salt scrub and a drizzle of grapeseed oil. “The salt’s coarse texture acts as a scrub, while the grapeseed oil imparts a delicate seasoning that’s essential for building layers of flavor—especially when cooking fish and red meat. This method not only cleanses and seasons the surface, but shows dedication to your craft and respect for the flavors you create.”

The last thing you want to do is leave a wet mess that can ruin the nonstick surface. Since you’ll likely have a lot of icky debris, paper towels are a good option for grease management. You can also use an old kitchen towel. Push the gunk into the grease cup. You definitely want to wipe down the cooking surface if you used a bristle brush to banish the BBQ gunk—you won’t want little pieces of bristles stuck to your hot dog next time you tailgate.

Seasoning is the preparation of steel or cast-iron cookware for use. “Seasoning is an easy but very important first step when using the Blackstone griddle,” Downey says. “It coats the cookware to prevent rust and creates a natural, permanent nonstick cooking surface.” Unlike synthetically coated griddles, steel and cast iron can be seasoned repeatedly, continuously restoring the cooking surface of your outdoor griddle.

Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor